We proceeded into the woods. The other shifters were scouting the perimeter, to make sure we were safe. The two of us met Arthur deep in the forest. He’d chosen Amantha as his protector, to stand in his mate’s place.
I felt sorry for Arthur, doing this without Vara. We should’ve performed this ceremony sooner. The four of us walked through the trees in silence, until they parted to make a clearing.
Babcia and Bapa were already there. They had drawn a circle of salt on the ground. A bowl of burning cedar branches sat in the middle of the circle, scattering smoke into the air.
Both of my grandparents had painted their eyes black, and wore deerskin robes. Bapa had a small leather drum, and Babcia carried some sort of rattle that looked like it was made from the skull of a deer. They gestured for Arthur and I to sit inside the circle. Ethan and Amantha remained at the edge of the trees, to keep watch for enemies. I could feel the heavy footsteps of my wolf as he prowled the edge of the clearing, looking for any threats.
“Take the ashes from the burning cedar and spread it over your eyes, so they may be opened to what the gods have to show you,” Babcia instructed.
Arthur and I reached out to smudge the ashes across our faces, avoiding any embers. I thought that they’d be hot, but instead, they were unnaturally cool to the touch, as if they’d been left out in the dead of winter.
This was some strange magic.
I smeared the ashes across my eyelids. Arthur took off his glasses and put them in his shirt pocket in order to do the same to his own eyes. Once we were done, Bapa said, “Join hands.”
I reached out to take Arthur’s hands in mine. His fingers were trembling. He was really nervous.
“Because you have a twin bond, you must reach out to the gods through your connection together,” Babcia instructed. “However, once you speak the invocation and fall into the trance, know that you may not end up in the same place. There is no telling what kind of journey your spirit may take you.”
I felt a shiver race up my spine as Bapa added, “During this journey, your soul will leave your body. We shall do our best to keep you safe during this time. Your spirit will not return until you have gained knowledge of whatever the gods wish you to know.”
“How long will that take?” Arthur asked.
“For some, mere moments. Others, many days.” Babcia’s tone darkened. “Know that we cannot move you from the salt circle until your soul returns, otherwise, your spirit will be forced to wander forever, and your body will become nothing more than a shell. Do your best to understand what the gods may tell you.”
That caused me to tremble. My body couldn’t take being outside without food, water, or medicine for days on end. If I didn’t learn my true name in time, my form would definitely give out. I had to do whatever the gods told me, if only to stay alive.
“As elders of the fae race, we will first reach out to the gods for you. Then you may call upon them. Are you ready?” Babcia asked.
“Yes,” Arthur and I responded in unison.
“Very well.” Babcia and Bapa started circling us. They went around us five times in a circle before they reversed and went the other direction. They began chanting something lowly in Malovian. Bapa played the drum, and Bapa shook the rattle.
“Seven Gods faithful, come to thee, come to thee,” Arthur and I spoke together. “Show us the meaning of ourselves, and open our eyes, so that we may know who we truly are.Seven gods faithful, come to thee, come to thee.”
I closed my eyes and took several slow breaths, attempting to focus on the connection between my brother and I. It wasn’t as strong as the bond Ethan and I shared. In fact… it was so much weaker now, damaged by Vara’s death and the weight of Arthur’s grief. I could barely reach him anymore.
We had to strengthen that bond again. The gods wouldn’t speak to one of us without speaking to both of us. I tugged tighter on the end of my connection, and Arthur tugged back, indicating he was there. I felt the threads of our twin bond grow stronger. I pictured a similar cord to the one I shared with Ethan, except this one was green in color. In my mind, the color became brighter as I tightened my hold on the connection, and Arthur responded in kind.
It nearly made me tear up. Arthur was so devastated, and yet, he wasn’t willing to give up on me. He was still here and fighting for us. I was so proud of him for being so strong and for holding on, despite losing everything that meant something to him.
As I began meditating, it started to rain. I did my best to block out the cold raindrops dotting my skin so I could focus. I worried if I became too cold that I’d get hypothermia, but there was no turning back now. The ceremony had already begun.
My head began to loll. A buzzing feeling overtook my body, making it feel like I was floating. Not of my own accord, my torso began to sway back and forth. I focused on the sound of the drum and the rattle. Arthur’s fingers had grown chilly in my hand, and I was starting to shiver. The ground was wet, and Ethan’s paws slapped against the muddy earth. I was starting to think this would never happen.
All of a sudden… I was in the salt circle, and then, I wasn’t.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a similar clearing to the one I’d departed, though it looked entirely different. The grass and trees here were tinted a light shade of blue, and everything was cast in a light, eerie glow. Stars spread out above me, and I could see the shape of massive planets as they loomed overhead. Fireflies twinkled a light shade of gold. In the center of the clearing was a pool, completely silver in color. The soft chirping of frogs and crickets told me this was a safe place, devoid of anything dangerous.
I reached up to feel my head, and skimmed the familiar wolfish ears that were nestled in my hair. It felt like I was sitting on a tail. Ouch.
I had to be somewhere in Edinmyre, but it was a part I hadn’t explored before. I looked around for Arthur, but he wasn’t there. He must’ve been sent to a different place. I got up from my seat and approached the pool. I looked down into it, but didn’t see my own reflection.
There were hoofsteps behind me. I turned as a deer approached through the trees. At first, I thought it had to be Milonna, my goddess. But as the doe approached, I knew that couldn’t be right. This deer was smaller, and her antlers were only three-pronged on each side, sharp and refined instead of twisting, like Milonna’s were. She was slightly larger than the average deer would be, although her fur was a dark shade of midnight blue, her head pure white. Her eyes glowed like the silver pool did, and seemed infinite. An array of spots dotted her back like starlight.
It was Vesna… the Blue Doe of Knowledge. She was the goddess of intelligence and wisdom. I’d never seen her before. I wasn’t sure why she would come to me, as she wasn’t the goddess I’d pledged myself to.
Hello, my old friend.Vesna inclined her head to me.I’m glad to see you once again.
